Following my own follow up to Don Baccus' posting about amatuer research
historically coming from 'ladies and gentlemen of significant means with lots
of time on their hands'.

The scope for amateurs playing a significant role can go well beyond being a
'field technician' for the Cornell Lab. It doesn't have to be BIG science. A
lot of basic information is lacking on a lot (if not most ?) species. The
overwhelming advantage amateurs have over the professionals is time. The need
for long term studies is HUGE - relatively little can be discovered about a
species in 3, 5 or 7 years. We have being visiting arctic Norway for 7 years
now - every year is different. We are only now considering writing the stuff
up, though it may need a couple of years yet. Not many academics can afford to
put their careers on hold long enough to gather significant amounts of data.
Its 'Publish or be damned' (my apologies to Mr. Clements ) a situation which
produces more paper than knowledge.

One other advantage that amatuers have, is that academics are retreating from
the field into the laboratory as molecular biology becomes more and more
fashionable and hence more funds become available. There is a danger that
biology / zoology / ornithology will get into a state of not being able to
'see the wood for the trees'. Maintaining a good flow of data from the field
is important in being able to understand the global picture on a species
behaviour, environment, breeding strategy etc, etc.


I don't think the UK need be a special case as far as amateur involvement a
lot of the programs are carried out in partnership with major organisations
and universities. A few examples:

The Nest Record Scheme organised by the British Trust For Ornithology (BTO).
The history of nests - egg laying dates, hatching dates, fledging dates etc
are recorded. Even a single visit to a nest is important. The dataset over
several decades provides information on breeding success, etc.

Common Bird Census organised by the BTO, surveys trends in the population of
20 common species found typicxally breeding in rural area, particularly
farmland. The data produced provides important indicators in population
changes.

Beached Bird Survey, organised by the Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds - originally carried out monthly (now annually) observers counted birds
washed up along beaches all around western Europe. Sometimes these counts were
the only indication of major pollution events - tankers washing out bilge.

Seabird Colony Register, organised by the Seabird Group. Birders counted
nesting seabirds to assess population changes, breeding success.

Gulls nesting on rooftops - Durham University organises a survey to monitor
the changes in numbers of gulls nesting on rooftop in towns nationwide.

Breeding Birds of Strathclyde - the Strathclyde branch of the Scottish
Ornithologists Club organised a 3 year survey to map all the species breeding
in Strathclyde region in southwest Scotland.

Urban shorebirds - Grampian Ringing Group annually surveys roof nesting
oystercatchers and ringed plovers in the Aberdeen area.

Stuart and his mates go to northern Norway each year to monitor breeding
success in shorebirds.

Bob Swann has a 20 year study on tawny owls breeding in nestboxes in Glen
Urquhart, Inverness-shire.

etc, etc.

These are just a few examples ranging from international efforts down to a
simply study done in peoples spare time. Each are equally important. Any of
these examples can be replicated at any scale you choose, local, national or
international. The data being gathered is really important and he scope is
enormous.

The truth is out there !!!!!

Stuart
--
Stuart MacKay, Ravenna Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105